Version Comparisons

We are not deeply impacted by the meaning of the Bible because of complex sentence structure and unfamiliar vocabulary.

But The Best News Ever is “punching holes in the darkness” of biblical illiteracy. It is helping to shed light and facilitate understanding because it is written in language and style that make God’s Word accessible to all. Its average of 9.85 words per sentence is evidence of its simple sentence structure. That statistic stands in contrast to the New Testament in other Bible versions. The King James Version (KJV) has an average of 29.56 words per sentence. The New International Version (NIV) has an average of 20 words per sentence. And New Living Translation (NLT) has an average of 15.78 words per sentence.

Romans 8:33-34

The Best News Ever (TBNE)

33 We are the people that God chose to be his own! So who can ever say before God that we are guilty of sin? No one can! Because God already said that our sins are gone! God treats us as if we never sinned!34 So who will say that we need to be punished forever for our sins? No one will! Christ Jesus died for our sins. And God made him come alive again. Now Christ is in the place of honor at the right side of God. Christ always sticks up for us. He always asks God to help us!

New Living Translation (NLT)

33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

New International Version (NIV)

33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

King James Version (KJV)

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

The Best News Ever (TBNE)

17 We have troubles now. But our troubles are small. And they will not last forever. So our troubles now are not such a big deal compared to having all of God’s totally awesome and amazing blessings forever.18 Our troubles are hard things in our life right now. We can see those things now. But we will not focus our attention on those things that we can see. No way! We will focus our attention on those things that we cannot see yet. The things that we can see now will last only a little time. But the things that we cannot see yet will last forever.”

New Living Translation (NLT)

17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

New International Version (NIV)

17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

King James Version (KJV)

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Ephesians 3:20-21

The Best News Ever (TBNE)

20 God is able to do way, way, way more than all of the things that we can ever ask him to do. God is able to do way, way, way more than all of the things that we can ever imagine. He does that by his awesome power that is working in us.21 God deserves praise because he is awesome. Praise God because his greatness is seen in his people. Praise God for all time and forever and ever! You can say that again!

New Living Translation (NLT)

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

New International Version (NIV)

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

King James Version (KJV)

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Colossians 1:21-23

The Best News Ever (TBNE)

21 Before, you were far away from God. Your way of thinking was against God. You kept on doing bad things. So you were God’s enemies. But now God made the way for you to be his friends.22 God made the way for you to have peace with himself. I will tell you how God did that. God sent his Son to become a man and to die on the cross for your sins. God did that so later on, when you stand before him, you will not be accused of any sins. It will be like you never did any bad things at all.23 To make that happen, you must keep on trusting in Christ. Your faith in Christ must be strong. It must be like a house that was built on a strong foundation. When you heard the Good News, you heard about all of the wonderful things that God promised to do for you. So you have a for-sure hope that you will get all those wonderful things someday. Do not let anyone pull you away from your for-sure hope. I am Paul. I am a messenger to tell people the Good News. People all around the world have heard the Good News.

New Living Translation (NLT)

21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.

New International Version (NIV)

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation –23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

King James Version (KJV)

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight;23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Hebrews 4:12

The Best News Ever (TBNE)

12 God’s Word is living. God’s Word is powerful. It is sharper than a sword with two sharp edges. It is like it can cut right through us to show all of the secrets in our heart. It cuts so deep that we cannot possibly hide anything from God. God’s Word can judge what we are thinking. And it can judge our attitudes.

New Living Translation (NLT)

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

New International Version (NIV)

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

King James Version (KJV)

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.